Wait, lilacs are edible?! Yep. And they’re not just edible—they’re fun. Think floral tea, fancy syrup, and the prettiest spring flavors. I’ll show you how. (Plus share some notes on health benefits, harvesting tips, and gentle reminders on when to go easy.)
In this post:
Are Lilacs Really Edible?
Lilac Health Benefits
4 Ways to Use Lilac Flowers and Leaves
Harvesting Tips
Lilac Flower Tea Recipe
Lilac Leaves Tea Recipe
Lilac Syrup Recipe
More Fun Teas
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Did you know lilac flowers are edible?
I didn’t — not until a few weeks ago.
Here in Schwetzingen, the lilac trees are bursting into bloom. Walking past huge bushes of purple and white flowers, practically swimming in their scent, I suddenly thought: Wait... could you eat these?
I knew elderflowers were edible; back in my childhood in Romania, my family made a sweet, bubbly syrup from them every spring (my parents still do).
A bit of researching later, and there it was: Lilacs are edible, too. Just waiting to be gathered and turned into something beautiful.
Are Lilacs Really Edible?
The short answer: yes — but with a few small warnings.
Lilac flowers (Syringa vulgaris) are technically a little bit toxic — but only if you eat a lot of them. The real troublemakers (compounds like syringin and syringopicrin) are mostly in the leaves and bark, not the flowers.
So, lilac flowers are generally safe to eat in small amounts. They do contain tiny traces of bitter compounds, but nothing dangerous if you’re just making a cup of tea.
🚨 Word of Warning
Consuming lilacs isn’t recommended for pregnant women or nursing moms. Also, it’s smart to go easy with little kids, who are more sensitive to plant compounds.
Lilac Health Benefits
There’s documented use of lilac as a medicinal herb going all the way back to the Middle Ages. It was believed to help lower fevers, ease aches, and give digestion a little boost.
The flowers are packed with antioxidants and bitter compounds that gently nudge the digestive system. The bark and leaves were once brewed for fevers and nerve pain. Some herbalists still turn to lilacs today.
That said, there’s little scientific research to back this up — it's more natural wisdom than modern medicine.
4 Ways to Use Lilac Flowers and Leaves
1. Lilac Tea
The simplest way to enjoy lilacs is to brew a cup of tea. Below, I’ll share the exact amounts I used (plus a few easy tips).
2. Lilac Syrup
Another easy way of preserving and cherishing the intoxicating scent of lilacs is to make lilac flower syrup. Capture that dreamy lilac scent by making syrup. It’s a little slow (the blossoms need to steep for 24 hours), but the smell alone is worth it. You'll find a recipe below.
3. Lilac Flowers for Aromatherapy
Toss a few handfuls of lilac flowers into your bath, and let the soft, springy scent melt your worries away.
4. Lilac-Infused Sugar
For a sweet lilac twist, mix dry petals (don't wash them) with sugar and let them infuse for a few days in a mason jar. Sift out the petals or grind everything together — either way, this lilac-scented sugar is magical sprinkled over cakes or stirred into tea. (I first spotted this trick over at Cinnamon & Coriander!)
Harvesting Tips
If you’re picking lilac flowers for tea, syrup, or a dreamy bath, here’s what to keep in mind:
- Choose plants growing far from heavy traffic; you don’t want car fumes on your flowers.
- Harvest when the blooms are dry (skip rainy days).
- Pick in the morning or just after sunset, when the flowers are fresh and full of life.
- Go for lilac heads with newly opened blossoms and skip any that look brown or wilted.
Now onto a roundup of lilac recipes.
Lilac Flower Tea Recipe
Lilac flower tea has a mild, oaty, and grassy flavor—much like a fine herbal infusion.
To my surprise, it doesn’t carry that typical strong lilac fragrance. Instead, the scent is gently floral. Once the tea is ready, I like to sprinkle a few fresh blossoms on top so I can enjoy the lilac aroma with every sip.
Since lilac flowers are known to soothe the stomach and aid digestion, you might want to sip a cup when your tummy feels off—or as a gentle preventative.
🍽 Recipe
Lilac Flower Tea
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of lilac flowers (1 fresh lilac head makes 2-3 cups of tea)
- 250-300 ml boiling water
- Sweetener of your choice optional
Instructions
- Gently pull about 2 tablespoons of lilac flowers off the stem.
- Steep the flowers in hot water for 5 minutes.
- Strain out the flowers.
- Add sweetener if desired.
- Sprinkle 2-3 flowers over the finished tea for the typical lilac scent.
Lilac Leaves Tea Recipe
You can also use lilac leaves to make tea, though I’d recommend enjoying it in small doses—no more than one or two cups per day—as lilac leaves are considered slightly toxic. Historically, they were used medicinally, for example, to help reduce fever.
The tea has a mildly bitter taste, unlike the gentle flavor of lilac flower tea. I personally enjoy its delicate bitterness, but you may want to sweeten your cup to balance it out.
🍽 Recipe
Lilac Leaves Tea
Ingredients
- 2-3 lilac leaves
- 250-300 ml boiling water
- Sweetener of your choice option
Instructions
- Steep the lilac leaves in hot water for 5 minutes. The longer you steep them, the more bitter the tea will become.
- Remove the leaves from the tea.
- Add sweetener if needed.
Lilac Syrup Recipe
This syrup is easy to make and infused with the delicate floral aroma of lilacs. All you need to do is soak lilac flowers in water for a day, then cook the lilac water with sugar. That’s it! You’ll have a fragrant syrup to use in all kinds of sweets and drinks—think ice cream, whipped cream, or simply mixed with sparkling water for a fizzy, spring-inspired drink.
The really fun part? The color of your syrup will match the lilac flowers you use: white blooms make a clear syrup, while deep purple ones result in a beautifully purple syrup.
🍽 Recipe
Lilac Syrup
Ingredients
- About 10 lilac flower clusters
- 1 l water (about 4¼cups)
- 1 organic lemon, washed and sliced optional
- 1-2 packets citric acid (5 g each, about 1–2 teaspoons)
- 500g-1000g white sugar (about 2½–5 cups, depending on your desired sweetness)*
Instructions
- Gently clean the lilac blossoms: remove insects or debris, but don’t wash them. Pluck the individual flowers and discard the stems.
- In a large container, combine the flowers, water, citric acid, and lemon slices.
- Cover and let sit in a dark place for about 24 hours to infuse.
- Strain the liquid through a fine sieve, pressing gently on the flowers and lemons to extract every last drop.
- Pour the liquid into a pot, add the sugar, and bring to a boil. Let it boil for about 10 minutes.
- Sterilize the bottles, lids, funnel, and (if possible) the strainer in water for 10 minutes, or heat in the oven at 120°C (250°F).
- While hot, pour the syrup into sterilized bottles and seal immediately. A funnel makes this part easier.
- Enjoy immediately as a fizzy drink with sparkling water, or use as a sweetener for your desserts.Shelf Life:Stored in a cool, dark place and sealed tightly, the syrup will last for several weeks. With 500 g (2½ cups) sugar: best to refrigerate and use within a few weeks. With 1 kg (5 cups) sugar: the syrup can last up to 1 year.
Notes
I’m always curious. How did it go? Tried one of these lilac recipes? I wanna hear all about it. Do you have other lilac uses? Drop the details below because we all love a good kitchen win or a lesson learned.
Wishing you planty of lilac delights,
Ramona
♥
Terri says
Lilacs are a rite of passage into spring for me. I need to try this!
Ramona says
Hi Terri,
The same is true for me. Lilacs, elderflowers, and peonies are the bloomy queens of spring to me.
With joy and love,
Ramona
Julie says
I have dark spots on my face, will the Lilac help remove them?
Ramona says
Hello Julie,
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, I'm not a dermatologist or doctor and have no information whatsoever about your request. Really sorry.
Cheers,
Ramona
Harry says
Do you dry out the lilac flowers? What about the leaves?
Looking to try the tea...
Ramona says
I usually use fresh lilac flowers and leaves. You can, though, dry both to preserve them and enjoy a cup of lilac tea off lilac season. Enjoy your tea. 🙂
Cassidy says
no, buy the product faded by Topicals... works wonders
Isabelle says
Thank u for ur informative article! Would u happen to know if the lilac leaves have the same medicinal properties/benefits as the flowers?
Ramona says
Dear Isabelle,
Thanks for your comment, happy you like the article.
I'm not an herbalist or nathuropat, so I don't have profound knowledge on the medicinal benefits. From what I've learned, both lilac blossoms and leaves have been used for similar purposes throughout the centuries. You can read more about the benefits on the following websites, for example:
https://www.thepracticalherbalist.com/herbal-memoirs/lilac-an-edible-and-medicinal-treat/
https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/common-lilac/
Cassidy says
hi!
did you ever make the syrup?? i don’t see the recipe on here
Ramona says
I haven't gotton to post the recipe just yet. If you want to try out a syrup recipe, you can go with the one from Joy of Plants (my recipe is similar), see links below. I make sure to let the sugar water cool until it is only lukewarm before pouring it over the lilac blossoms. I find that this way the fragrance and taste are more intense. Also, I start taste testing the syrup after 2 days to check if it's tasteful already.
I hope this helps.
https://www.thejoyofplants.co.uk/how-make-perfect-lilac-syrup
http://ourfoodstories.com/2015/06/lilac-syrup.html/
Linda says
I found steeping the lilac leaves made a nice green tea. If one likes a more sweet tea, add some honey. As I had a horrible cold, drinking this version of a green tea really helped me get well. I will be adding some of the lilac flowers too.
Ramona says
Thanks for sharing your experience, Linda. Happy to hear the lilac leaves tea helped soothe your cold.
Carol Lynn Flanagan says
Can you use dried flowers for tea? Can you air dry them? What about drying the leaves as well? Thank you
Ramona says
Hi Carol,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, you can use dried lilac flowers or leaves for tea. When air drying, it should take about 3 days until they are completely dry.
Cheers,
Ramona